Process and apparatus for carburizing



Aug. 21, 1956 J, NESS 2,759,863

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURIZING Filed Nov. 29, 1.951

8 Sheets-Sheet l "Ill I -f I Ii i 07 j7 //,.j 2/ ,.Z7///// INVENTOR. HAROLD J. NESS ATTO R EY Aug. 21, 1956 H. J. NESS' PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURIZING Filed Nov. 29, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAROLD .J.NESS

ATTOR EY Aug. 21, 1956 H. J. NESS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURIZING Filed Nov. 29. 1951 8 Sheet s-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. HAROLD J. NESS M \M L ATTO NEY Aug. 21, 1956 H J. NESS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CARBURIZING 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed NOV. 29. 1951 INVENTOR HAROLD J. NESS ATTOR E Y Aug. 21, 1956 H. J. NESS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR, cmgunxzmc Filed Nov. 29. 1951 8 Shegts-Sheet 8 INVENTOR HAROLD J.NESS

ATToR EY United States Patent assi nottoMetali, a corporation of This invention relates to industrial furnaces for the heating of metal fparts and more particularly to direct fired combustion type furnaces in which the parts to be heated are surrounded by the products of combustion.

One of the objects of the invention is to prevent or reduce to inconsequential *amounts the oxidation or scaling 'of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and the decarburiza'tion of ferrous metals, which is inherent' inzprior art processes of heating such *metals directly in coinbustion rgases.

Another object is to provide a gaseous atmosphere in a direct fired furnace in which accurate control of the carbon content of ferrous metals heated therein "may be-obtained.

Anotherobject is to provide such-a gaseous atmosphere in which the 'car'bur'izing potential "of the atmosphere may be controlled so as to be neutral to steel of any particular carbon content or 'carburizing to such steel in selective amounts.

A still further object is to provide such an atmosphere in which a coating material will be deposited or formed on the work in con't'rolled'hniounts dining heating thereof and which will serve as a lubricant for'subsequent'working operations such as tpressing, piercing, follini'g, forming, or extrusion "of the metal.

Still a'notlierobiect is to provide a combustion firrna'c'e atmosphere employing 'lithium'as -'a conditioning mediu'tn, in which the conditioning "of the "combustion gases is completed and an equflibrium condition estab'lished ipr-idr to obtain uniformity in the protection-from scaling and 'decarburization of "the work "hr in the c'arburizatio'n thereof.

Another "object is to provide pa'rtial segregation ot the 'work from the exothermic 'gas reactions and to Iobtain gas reactions at or adjacent-the woi k bf or closely appreaching 'a'n endothermic nature.

Still another "object is to'previde a combustion furnace in which an increased uniformityof hating of the work is :ohtained and in which i s "-large proportion of the heat rsnpplied tothe workis radiant.

Other "objects and advantages will hereinafter :appear. in 1a 'copendingapp'licatioh, Serial No. 1 394906, filed January 21, i950, new Patent No. 2, 706, 1-l0,issued April 12, T9 56, "and entitled Goinbustion Furnace," *I

have disclosed a directly liied furnace for the heating "at tnet'als employing lithium Was -a conditioning medium,

in which scale-tree heating is obtained. The present applicatidn "is an improvement, for certain usages, over the furnace entire a tbresaid application. i lnssaiiltp'rior application .-I pointed out the iiecessityof I obtainin g substantially complete reaction or the combustible mixture prio'rtb the introductionbt a lithium containing vapor into contact therewith and accoiii lisheti objeetive completed substantially in the burner block so that nt-he products of combustion entered the furnace chamber at substantially their maximum heat energy level. The gases were then brought into immediate contact with the lithium vapor for reaction therewith, these reactions being carried out in a part of the heating chamber some what remote from the work. I have now found that increased effectiveness of the lithium-combustion gas reactions can be obtained by delaying the passage of the lithium-combustion gas mixture to the work and by increasing the :area of contact and scrubbing action of the hot brickwork over which the mixture passes in its travel to and over the work. It is not known whether the brickwork acts catalytically to accelerate the lithiumcombustion gas reactions or mechanically to break up the gas stream and produce a more intimate mixture between the lithium vapor and the :gaseous products. :It is believed, however, to be the former. -As a result of the m'ore complete reactions, the combustion gases are rendered more neutral toward the work and by means of supplemental raw hydrocarbon additions to the furnace adjacent the work, an atmosphere condition may be "established about the work which is in balance with :the carbon content of a particular steel or, if desired, cairb-urizing to it.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a reaction chamber which .-is separate from the heating chamber, the combustion "products {passing from the reaction chamber into the heating chamber in transit :to the exhaust vents. The furnace burners fire directly into the reaction chamber and :are preferably of a type in which "the burning is substantially completed in the burner block. The lithium-conditioning medium in the form :of a -vapor is introduced into the burner products and reacted therewith in the reaction ichamb'er to 81161123. :degree that an equilibrium condition :is established in the products of the reaction prior to entrance of the :gases intorthe work or heating chamber. The establishment "of this equilibrium condition is dependent uponthe size hf the reaction chamber whereby the gases are delayed before entering tthe workchambe'r, in order to provide a "time factor to permit *com'pletionof the reactions. The configuration or construction ct the reaction chamber is 2 also -important inestablishing the equilibrium of the lithiumcombustion fgasreactions, by (providing an-extended area of hot surfaces and -a tortuous ipath to-"effect intermixing a nd "scrubbing -of the gases "during the reaction ,period so as'to'accelerate the same.

The reaction chanrb'er :rnay conveniently be formedby an arch or "refrhctoryipartition extending -across the i-furnace so as to divide the latter into two separate .comp'artments, the partition :havihg tpass'ageways for thefigases therein between the e're'action and work chambers. :This partition, :in addition tto providing the delayed passage of the combustion gases into the work chamber, sent/estate extract a fpo'rtion ofthe heat from the gases-and by virtue of its relation fto=the work,:to heat the la'tter abylradia'tion. lhis feature 'is 'of importance in theproduction of a carbu-rizing er carb'on equaljzing condition adjacent -:t0 the 'wor k, :as will moretnlly'app'ear. To further aid in this regard the floo'rof the i'fur nace is also chambered-rte enable the exhaust gases T :pas's 'therethrough and -:under whereby to extract furtheriheat from thegases-qandfto conserveand utilize such heat to further heat the work by radiation. The substantially solid 'side walls fo'rm further radiating su'rfaces, zall of said walls beingirfelatively closely spaced to the work to enhance the radiant l'ie'ati'r1g 6f "the load by the lawsofi inverse squares.

The carburizing or carbon iequilibrium condition iis pr'odileii in the "Working ichaniber of the furnace .by the naceous fuel being introduced into the chamber in such manner as to overlay or envelop the work. The term carbonaceous material" as used herein includes any carbon containing compound or mixtures containing one or more carbon containing compounds, which material will not of itself support combustion and which will decompose endothermically to produce nascent carbon. By way of example, such materials include hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, such as alcohols and aldehydes, whether liquid, gaseous or solid, and compounds of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, among which are petroleum oils and their distillation products; hydrocarbons of the methane series, such as methane, propane and butane, the lighter alcohols, as ethyl, methyl and propyl and their aldehydes, manufactured gas, such as city gas, and numerous others. However, for economy and convenience I prefer to employ one of the liquid or gaseous fuels in common use in the location, such as light or heavy fuel oil, city gas, natural gas, or propane. This carbonaceous material is reacted in part by contact with the hot combustion gases from the reaction chamber, in part from contact with the heated work, and in part by radiation from the furnace walls. However, since these reactions are partly endothermic in nature, a layer of a carbon rich gas is produced about the work, the carburizing potency of which may be controlled by the quantity and character of the raw carbonaceous material admitted to the chamber and may be regulated so as to be either in substantial balance with the carbon content of a particular steel or carburizing to it.

The carburizing efficiency of the gas is greatly increased by the actual cracking of this gas in contact with the hot work. However, since this action extracts heat from the work and further since the endothermic gases about the work serve to some extent to isolate the work from the hot combustion gases, the importance of the radiant heat from the walls, floor and roof of the chamber becomes evident. The provision of a separate reaction chamber permits the walls of the heating chamber to be closely spaced to the work since the combustion space, usually required in the heat chamber itself, is provided by the reaction chamber.

The lithium compound vapor added to the reaction chamber, in addition to rendering the products of combustion non-oxidizing to the work, also serves to deposit on the work a very thin layer of a lithium compound, which, as pointed out in my aforesaid application, serves as a lubricant for the work in subsequent mechanical operations. It is desirable, however, in certain operations to separately lithiate the raw gas additions and to V augment the coating on the work, and I have found that this is most readily accomplished by supplying an additional amount of lithium compound vapor into the furnace close to the work.

The invention will best be understood by a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a billet heating furnace embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the furnace partly in front elevation and partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a view of the furnace partly in rear elevation and partly in section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of the furnace, partly in plan and partly in section, on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of arch structure;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a main furnace burner;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the supplemental raw fuel inlet;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the furnace showing the piping and valving arrangements of the furnace;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of furnace embodying the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a front view partly in section of the furnace of Fig. 9.

Referring first to Fig. l I have shown a billet heating furnace comprising an external metal shell 9 containing a refractory lining comprising a base 10, a front wall 11 having an opening 12, closed by a door 13, a solid rear wall 14, end walls 15 and 16 (Fig. 4), a roof 17 and an intermediate arched portion 18 forming an upper reaction chamber 19 and a lower work chamber 20.

The arched portion 18 is not continuous longitudinally of the furnace but is divided into a series of arches with intermediate passageways 21, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This construction is preferred over the usual checkerboard type of perforated arches for the reason that it permits certain of the passageways 21 to be closed by overlaying the same with an arcuate metal plate 22, inserted up through the passageways, whereby the circulation of the gases from the upper reaction chamber to the heating chamber may be varied in order to obtain the most advantageous arrangement for proper conditioning of the gas and to obtain uniformity in the heating of the work. If desired, as shown in the modification of Fig. 5, the arches 18 may have a stepped or shouldered upper face to support loose refractory bricks, or slabs, 22' variably positioned to control the passage of combustion gases into the heating or work chamber 20.

The roof 17 preferably is also formed of a refractory arch for structural reasons and to enhance the scrubbing of the products of combustion.

The burners 23 for supplying the heat to the reaction chamber 19 are arranged in a horizontal row on the rear wall of the furnace and preferably are of a type in which the combustion reactions are substantially completed in the burner blocks. The burners, shown in detail in Fig. 6, comprise the refractory blocks 24 set into the rear wall 14 of the furnace and apertured to receive the burner nozzle 25, secured by a flange 26 to a plate 27, in turn secured to the furnace shell 9 and serving to cover square apertures in the shell by which the block 24 may be removed for repair or replacement. A spiral insert 28 in the bore of the burner nozzle serves to deflect and break up the burning air-fuel mixture issuing from the nozzle and to assist in the rapid combustion thereof. Obviously other forms of burner construction may be employed which will handle the large volume of gas required in the heating of furnaces of the high temperature type, the prime consideration being the rapid and substantially complete combustible reaction of the fuel and air mixture by the time the products of combustion enter into the reaction chamber 19, or at least before they contact the lithium vapor introduced into the reaction chamber through the inlets 29 (Fig. 1). This completion of the combustion reactions prior to the mixture of the lithium vapor therewith is an important step in the creation of a non-oxidizing condition in the work chamber, the second important step being, as heretofore stated, the complete reaction of the lithium vapor with the products of combustion prior to the entrance of the gases into contact with the work.

The lithium vapor inlets 29 are disposed in each end of the furnace above the arches 18 and comprise (Fig. 3) an apertured refractory 30 communicating with a vaporizing tube 31 of suitable heat resisting alloy extending through a combustion chamber 32 formed of suitable refractory 33 contained within a metal shell 34 forming an extension of the furnace shell 9, at each end of the furnace. One or more burners 35 fire into the chamber 32 at the lower part thereof so as to maintain the tube 31 at a temperature above the melting point of the lithium compound adapted to be contained within the tube.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tube 31 is connected to the shell 34 by a flange 36 and is provided externally of the shell with an extension having an open end adapted to be closed by a cover 38.

The lithium compounds are inserted into the vaporizing tube 31 in the form of a compressed or fused cake disposed within an open boat 42 secured to the end of a draw rod 43 and engageable with ajlug 44 in thetu'be 31 so .as to accurately position the boat within the tube .centrally of the combustion chamber .32. The charge placed within the boat '42 preferably comprises a mixture of lithium carbonate and lithium chloride in the proportion of 60% of the former and 40% of the latter. Other compounds of lithium and other proportions may be employed.

Any suitable neutral carrier gas may be introduced into the vaporizing tube for the purpose of .en'tra'injing the vapors liberated from the molten lithium and carrying them into the furnace, but Ipreferto employ the products of combustion of a suitable fuel such as oil, cityggas, *nat ural gas, propane, etc. In practice I have found that the products of combustion in the chamber 32 may -he employed, and for this purpose an aperture 4'6 is ,providedin the tube 31 communicating 'with the chamber 32. The opening 46 is disposed tothe sidezofthe boat 42 awayfrom the furnace so that the combustion gases sweep over :the lithium compound contained therein in passing into the reaction chamber '19 of the furnace.

The use of the products "of combustion from the chamber 32 as a carrier gas for the lithium compounds has a number of advantages over the previously employed'arrangements in Which eithera separate 'gasgeneratori's-emplayed or a portion of the jgas in the main furnace is recirculated through the vaporizer tu'be 31, as shown in my aforesaid application Serial No. 139,906. 'Thepresent arrangement eliminates the :need for cooling, dehydieting and pumping of the gas, together'withall'of the external piping connections, cooling water supply, and electrical connections to-the pump motor. It'also avoids exhausting the combustion gases from the chamber 32 into the room since these-gases are vented through the furnaceitself. Moreover, a smaller chamber-P2 maybe employed with less fuel eonsumptionthan'when a coldcarrier gas is passed through the-tube'fvl and theheat generated in the vaporizing'chamber is, eXcept"'for lossthroug'h the vaporizer chamber walls, all' added to the main'furnace chamber. The avoidance of a temperature -differ ential between the inside and outside of the alloy tube 31 andbetween the front and rear ends thereof'also results in much longer life for the tube and, since there 'is no chilling efifect of cold gases on the lithium "compound, a lower temperature may be employed in the vaporizing Chamber.

'The amount of lithium compound'employed is extreme ly small and may be regulated by'the-temperature 'of the combustion chamber 32 through'suitable pyrom'etercontrol, as is Well known inthe art. However, where the products of combustion of the chamber 32'are vented over the lithium compounds within the tube 31, it is desirable to have arelatively smallvariation'in burner consumption whether the burners are'on or off or" control. For this reason the gas and air supply to the burnersj 35 isadjusted just below the minimum requirement to maintain the chamber up to the required temperature, say1640 -F., when the burners are on control. This insures 'an adequate minimum flow 'of gasoverthe lithium compounds-at all times.

"A second vaporizer tube 47, identical to the tube 31, passes through the combustion chamber Hand'terniinates in an aperture in a refractory 4 8 disposedbelow'thelevel of the arch 1'8 so as to discharge into the workchamber 20. The tube 47 also has an opening 48 into thecombustion chamber 32 to permitthe 'productso'f'combustion of this chamber to serve as the'carrier gas for vaporizer-tube. The apertures 48 and 4'6 should -beof-"su'fiic ient size to permit the products of combustion -tobereadily vented therethrough, the sum 'of 'the areas offthese openin'gs being equal, approximately, 'to the-area of-the vent normally required forthe chamber 32. 'T he purp'ose of the tube 47 is to increasel'thelithium supplyttoctheiwork chamber both to provide atmosphere protection 'to the work and to augment -the coatingof lithiurnteompounds formed on the work, as willrmore ffullytappearihereinatter.

greases In furnaces of moderate length the provision of lithium vapor inlets at the opposite ends thereof will be suificient to satisfactorily condition the combustion gases in the reaction chamber 18. In longer furnaces it may be desirable to add one or more additional lithium Vaporizers and I have shown one such additional vaporizer 49 disposed'centrally of the rear wall 14 of the furnace, and having a pair of vaporizing tubes 50 and "51 discharging above and below the arch 18, respectively.

The floor of the Work chamber 20 is'carried by-a series of spaced brick pedestals '52 disposed in a number of transverse rows, the pedestals of each row being bridged by refractory slabs 53 upon which the transverse rows of work supporting rails orsills 54 are carried. 'Other'slabs 55 are bridged 'across each adjacent pair of transversely extending slabs 53, certain of the slabs 55 being omitted to provide openings, as shown at 56 in Fig. 4, for theventing of the furnace gases through the floor. These gases pass through the openings 56 and thence transversely beneath the slabs 55 and longitudinally through the passageways 39 between the piers -or pedestals 52 to the vertical venting stacks 57 disposed at each end'of the furnace.

As will be evident from the construction described by adjustmentof-the position of the vent open-ings between the slabs 55, the circulation of the furnace gases may be controlled to produce uniform atmosphere and heating conditions throughout the work'cha-mber. This is highly desirable in order to obt-a'in a uniform carbon potential at the work either "for carburizin'g or carbon controlled heating.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, additional vents SSextending from the base of thedoor passageway 12 to stacks 59 in the front wall 11 provide for a circulation of *the furnace gases into the door passageway, thereby overcoming the normal cooling "effect of the door and preventing contamination of the furnace atmosphere by restricting or opposing the seepage of air into the furnace around the door :13 and venting such air through the stacks S9.

The passageway 1'2, as will be clear from Fig. 2, extends across the major portion of the furnace and is bridged by a fiat arch 6'0. A hollow rectangular structural member .61, which may be water cooled, is also bridged over the passageway '12 and serves as an abutment for the door 13, which in closed position is supported on an angle bracket 62 and is arranged -to be raised by cables or chains 63 secured through a tr'iangular load equalizer '64 to a chain 65 which passes over a sprocket '66 and is secured to a counterweight 67. The sprocket 6'6 has an operating arm fifi pivoted to a pull rod 69 operated-in any suitable manner as by a lever or hydraulic cylinder (not shown).

In addition to the burners 23. and lithium vapor inlets 31 and -47, the furnace has another set of inlets '70 extending into the furnace through the rear wall below the arch 18. These inlets 70 are forithe admission of a raw hydrocarbon fuel into'the work chamber, the purpose of which is to enrich the atmosphere of the work chamber in 'an amount to permit a desired carbon potential to be created about the work. The hydrocarbon fuel may be a liquid, solid or gaseous hydrocarbon, but -for convenience I prefer, as stated, to employ a fuel gas such as natural gas, propane, city gas, or "t-he'like. This gas .is introduced into the'furnace'adjacent the work so-as to form a blanket or layer of gas which ingeneral surrounds and envelopes the work. Its function is to break down endothermically in contact with or in close association with the work so-as to produce aisupp'ly of available carbon either for carburizing the work or balancing the carbon l'evel'thereof so as to prevent decarbur'ization of the work.

I 'believe it has not been possible heretofore to produce carburizing in direct fired furnaces due to the inability of producing .azsufiici'ently high carbon potential in such furnaces. I arn'ableto accomplishrsuch:carburizing, howeverpby virltue Oiflfi *conibinationuof:contributing conditions, the :most important 10f which :is ithe :use .of

7 lithium vapor, whereby carburization may be efiected at much lower carburizing potentials than is otherwise possible. This property of lithium is further increased by insuring the complete conditioning of the combustion gases prior to the entrance into the heating chamber; that is to say, in the reaction chamber. By virtue of the increased reaction time provided by the passage of the combustion gases through the reaction chamber, and the catalytic effect of the hot brickwork of this chamber on the lithium-combustion gas reactions, and particularly the intimate scrubbing action of the gases on this brickwork, the combustion gases attain their equilibrium values before entering the work chamber. These gases also give up a large proportion of their heat to the arch members 18 which thus serve as radiating surfaces for heating the work in the chamber 20. The same effect is produced by the floor refractories due to the venting of the gases under the floor. The combustion gases entering the work chamber are substantially neutral to the work providing the proper air-fuel ratio is maintained to the burners 23. This ratio should be such that the gases leaving the reaction chamber will have a COz/CO ratio of from 0.3 to 0.45 depending on the temperature of operation. The raw fuel added through the inlets 70 is relatively small in quantity, compared to that consumed in the burners 23, ordinarily up to 20% depending upon the temperature of the work heated. it is maintained in a relatively cool condition prior to entering the work chamber by the air-cooled jacket 71 (Fig. 7) about the inlet tubes 70 so that cracking of the fuel will not occur prior to its entrance into the chamber 20. The location of the inlets 70 is, as stated, closely adjacent to the work and spaced across the length of the rear of the furnace and at each end so as to permit all of the work to be substantially enveloped by this raw fuel before the former has had sufficient time to break down thermally. Due to the low available oxygen content of the gases from the reaction chamber 18, exothermic reactions with the added fuel can not be supported to any appreciable extent so that the latter in large part break down endothermically, obtaining heat for this purpose in part by intermingling with the lithiated products from the reaction chamber, in part by contact with the hot work, and in part by radiation from the furnace walls. This latter effect causes a gas having a positive carbon potential to be created at the surface of the work, the potency of which can be readily controlled by the volume and the carbon availability of the raw fuel admitted over the work. This endothermic gas is of course diluted by the exothermic gas but, since the latter is substantially neutral in character, its only effect is to render the endothermic gas less potent. Thus by adjustment of the relative volumes of the exothermic and endothermic gases, any desired carhurizing potential may be produced at the work. The radiant effect of the hot arch and floor is responsible in a large degree for the maintenance of the proper temperature of the work, serving to replace in a considerable measure the heat absorbed thereby in the endothermic cracking of the raw fuel, it being understood that the work is more or less isolated from the exothermic gases by the raw gas layer. It is partially because of this partial isolation of the work that renders it desirable to add additional lithium compound into the work chamber over the work in such manner that it will mingle with and be carried to the work by the raw fuel so as to deposit thereon in a thin adherent coating. This coating not only prevents any oxidizing reactions from occurring on the surface of the work but appears to facilitate the carburizing reactions, perhaps due in part to the oxide-free surface produced and in part to the catalytic action of lithium in facilitating the cracking of the raw fuel. In any event the presence of lithium vapor adjacent the work appears to lower the COz/CO ratio obtained in the endothermic gases and enhances and stabilizes the proc- 8 ess whereby greater uniformity and control of the carburizing potency of the atmosphere is achieved. As a coating on the work it serves in addition to protect the same from oxidizing in the air during cooling of the metal and further acts as a lubricant during mechanical hot or cold working.

Reference has been made herein to supplying of air and fuel to the burners 23 and 35, and fuel and cooling air to the raw gas inlets 70. In Fig. 8 I have shown the piping and valving arrangements for this purpose. The main burners 23 are supplied with gas and air from a manifold 72 connected to the gas and air supply lines 73 and 74 respectively through a venturi mixing valve 75, under pyrometer control as is well known in the art. The burners 35 of the vaporizing chambers 32 and 49 are similarly supplied with gas and air from the supply lines 73 and 74 through the venturi mixers 76. A hand valve 77 in the air line is ordinarily adjusted to maintain a flow of air and gas to the burners 35 slightly less than required to keep the vaporizing chambers up to the desired temperature and supplemental air is provided through the bi-pass 78, under control of the pyrometer controlled valve 79, when the vaporizer temperature drops below the desired minimum.

Fuel for the raw gas addition tubes 70 is also supplied from the main fuel line 73 through conduit 80 and a diaphragm controlled valve 81, and cooling air for the tubes is supplied from the air line 74 by way of conduits 82 and valve 83. The diaphragm valve 81 is for the purpose of maintaining in the furnace the proper proportion of raw gas from the tubes 70 and combusted gas from the burners 23, irrespective of changes in the pressure in the burner manifold 72. This constant proportion is obtained by connecting one side of the diaphragm 84 of valve 81 to the manifold 72 by the conduit 85 whereby the valve 81 opens and closes proportionally to increased and decreased gas pressure in the manifold 72. A bi-pass 86 containing a manual valve 87 permits the raw gas flow to be controlled separately from the valve While the invention has been described in connection with the well known overfired type of furnace structure, it is to be understood that it is not limited to furnaces of this type but may be embodied in form of furnace in which separate exothermic and endothermic reaction zones may be satisfactorily maintained. In the modification of Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown another form of furnace for etfecting this result.

The furnace chamber 90 of Figs. 9 and 10 is shown as substantially rectangular in shape and having an arched roof 91 with one or more burners such as 92 firing thereinto against the arch so as to obtain the scrubbing effect of the hot brickwork on the combustion gases. A lithium vaporizer 93 of similar construction to that shown in Fig. 3 is built into the rear of the furnace and the products of combustion thereof pass through the vaporizing tube 94, over the molten lithium compounds contained therein and thence into the combustion chamber at 95, in the path of the gases issuing from the burner 92. The upper part of the furnace chamber serves as a reaction chamber for the completion of the reactions between the burner products and the lithium vapor and is of sutiicient size to permit these reactions to be completed therein. The work chamber 95 is formed adjacent the floor of the furnace and is separated from the reaction chamber by an arch 97 composed of mesh or perforated heat resisting alloy such as a nickel chrome alloy, and extends between the front and rear walls 98 and 99, respectively, of the chamber 90.

Raw or unburned hydrocarbon fuel is admitted into the work chamber 96 by means of a conduit 100, and lithium compound Vapor is supplied thereto by a second vaporizing tube 101. The work is inserted into and removed from the chamber 96 through a horizontal slot 102 in the forward wall 98, the slot 102 being closed by ataaaea' a suitable door, if desired, or of loose refractory as shown at 103.

The furnace gases are exhausted from the reaction chamber through vents 104 disposed in the floor at each.

corner of the chamber and in communication with the vent stacks 105.

By virtue of this arrangement, heat is supplied by exothermic reaction of the combustible mixture supplied to the burners 92 and a carburizing gas is produced around the Work by endothermic cracking of the raw fuel supplied by the conduit 100. The alloy arch serves to partially isolate the endothermic gas from the exothermic while permitting the former to pass through the interstices and thus to the vents. The heat for effecting the endothermic reactions is supplied in part from radiation from the arch 91, in part from contact with and radiation from the alloy arch 97, which in turn is heated by contact with the combustion gases, and in part by contact with the hot work. There is also some intermingling of combustion gas with endothermic gases within -the chamber 96, the amount of such intermingling depending upon the quantity of raw fuel admitted to the chamber, and the size and number of openings in the alloy arch. in practice I have found that a wire mesh having anopening of from A to is satisfactory. Finer meshes, While permitting a carburizing potential to be maintained in the work chamber, are not sufficiently rugged to give a long useful life and are not necessary to efiect the desired results. Moreover, a mesh having a substantial amount of metal surface is advantageous for absorbing heat from the exothermic gases and conveying it to the contained endothermic gas.

Control of the carburizing potential is obtained by the quantity and nature of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the Work chamber and may best be determined empirically for any particular furnace. In the furnace shown ordinary city gas having a 550 B. t. 11. content was satisfactorily employed for obtaining carbon potentials below the eutectic, Whereas a richer gas, such as propane gas, produced hypereutectoid carburizing; the quantity of raw fuel being of the order of magnitude of 'of the fuel consumption of the burners 92.

Obviously other forms of furnaces and furnace appurtenances may be employed to obtain the combined exothermic heat producing and endothermic controlled carbon potential conditions in the furnace, and therefore I do not desired to be limited to the illustrative embodiments of the invention herein shown and described but contemplate all manner and means of accomplishing the desired result coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of a work heating chamber, a combustion chamber, a partition separating said combustion chamberfrom said work chamber, said partition having openings therein for passage of products of combustion from said combustion chamber into said work chamber, burner means for said combustion chamber, means for supplying a combustible mixture of air and fuel to said burner means, said burner means and said combustion chamber being of related capacity so that the gaseous reactions will be completed and stabilized prior to passage thereof into said work chamber, means for admitting a raw gasinto said work chamber, and means for producing a vapor of a lithium compound and for separately admitting the same into said combustion chamber and into said work chamber.

2. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of a work heating chamber, a combustion chamber, an arched partition separating said combustion chamher from said Work chamber, said partition having openings therein for passage of products of combustion from said combustion chamber into said work chamber, burner means for said combustion chamber, means for supplying a combustible mixture of air and fuel to said burner means said burner means being disposed to direct the burner products into scrubbing contact with said arched partition, said burner means and said combustion chamber being of related capacity so that the gaseous reactions wiil be completed and stabilized prior to passage thereof into said work chamber, and means for producing a vapor or a lithium compound and for admitting the same into said combustion chamber.

3. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of a work heating chamber, a .combustion chamber, 21 series of arched sections forming a partitionYseparating said combustion chamber from said work chamber and constituting one Wall of each of said chambers, said arched sections being spaced apart to form openings therebetween for passage of products of combustion from said combustion chamber into said Work chamber, burner means for said combustion .chamber, means for supplying a combustible mixture of air and fuel to said burner means, said burner means and said combustion chamber being of related capacity so that the gaseous reactions will be completed and stabilized prior to passage thereof into said work chamber, means for admitting a raw gas into said Work chamber, andv means for producing a vapor of a lithium compound and for separately admitting,

the same into said combustion chamber and into said work chamber.

4. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of a work heating chamber, a combustion chamber, a partition separating said combustion chamber from said work chamber and forming one wall of each of said chambers, said partition having distributed openings therein for passage of products of combustion from said reaction chamber into said work chamber, burner means for said combustion chamber, said burner means and said combustion chamber being of related capacity so that the gaseous reactions will be completed and stabilized prior to passage thereof into said work chamber, means for admitting a raw gas into said work chamber, means for producing a vapor of a lithium compound and for separately admitting the same into said combustion chamber and into said work chamber and means for variably closing said openings, whereby to control the passage of said reaction products into said work chamber.

5. Ina combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothennically therein to produce hot reaction products, an endothermic reaction chamber, a partition intermediate said chambers and forming a common wall thereof, said partition serving to absorb heat from said exothermic reactions and to impart said heat radiantly to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorption ofheat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means for passing the reaction products from said exothermic combustion chamber into sand endothermic reaction chamber for admixture with said endothermic reaction products, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

6. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothermically therein to produce hot reaction products, means for adding a lithium compound to said chamber, an endothermic, reaction chamber, a partition intermediate said chambers and forming a common wall thereof, said partition serving to absorb heat from said exothermic reactions and to impart said heat radiantly to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorption of heat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means for maintaining said carbonaceous material below its endothermic reaction temperature during its passage into said chamber, means for passing the combustion products from said exothermic reaction chamber 'into said endothermic reaction chamber for admixture with sand endothermic reaction products, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

7. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothermically therein to produce hot reaction products, an endothermic reaction chamber, a partition intermediate said chambers and forming a common wall thereof, said partition serving to absorb heat from said exothermic reactions and to impart said heat radiantly to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorption of heat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means for passing the reaction products from said exothermic combustion chamber into said endothermic reaction chamber for admixture with said endothermic reaction products, means for separately adding lithium compounds in vapor form to each of said chambers, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

8. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothermically therein to produce hot reaction products, an endothermic reaction chamber, an apcrtured partition intermediate said chambers and forming a common wall thereof, said partition serving to absorb heat from said we othermic reactions and to impart said heat radiantly to said endothermic reaction chamber, and to permit the passage of gases from said exothermic combustion chamber to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorption of heat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

9. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothermically therein to produce hot reaction products, an endothermic reaction chamber, a reticulated partition intermediate said chambers, said partition serving to permit the passage of gases from said exothermic combustion chamber to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorption of heat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting Work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

lO. In a combustion furnace for metal heating, the combination of an exothermic combustion chamber, means for supplying air and fuel thereto in proportion to react exothermically therein to produce hot reaction products, an endothermic reaction chamber, an apertured partition intermediate said chambers and forming a common Wall thereof, said partition serving to absorb heat from said exothermic reactions and to impart said heat radiantly to said endothermic reaction chamber, and to permit the passage of gases from said exothermic combustion chamber to said endothermic reaction chamber, means for supplying a carbonaceous material to said endothermic reaction chamber which is capable of reacting endothermically by absorbtion of heat from said endothermic reaction chamber, means for separately adding lithium compounds in vapor form to each of said chambers, means in said endothermic reaction chamber for supporting work to be heated and means for venting the gaseous products from said endothermic reaction chamber.

11. The method of heating metal in the work chamber of a metal heating furnace and producing a gaseous atmosphere therein, comprising exothermically reacting air and a hydrocarbon fuel externally of said chamber to produce hot gaseous reaction products, adding lithium carbonate to said hot reaction products, introducing the hot lithiated reaction products into the chamber to ix..- part heat thereto, adding an unreacted hydrocarbon gas to said chamber and utilizing said heat to raise the temperature of said metal to the desired degree and to endothermically crack said unreacted hydrocarbon gas to produce nascent carbon in said chamber.

12. The method of heating metal in the work chamber of a metal heating furnace and producing a gaseous atmosphere therein, comprising exothermically reacting air and a hydrocarbon fuel externally of said chamber to produce hot gaseous reaction products having a CO/COz ratio between 0.3 and 0.45, adding lithium carbonate in vapor form to said hot reaction products, introducing the hot lithiated reaction products into the chamber to impart heat thereto, adding an unreacted hydrocarbon gas to said chamber and utilizing heat to raise the temperature of said metal to the desired degree and to endothermically crack said unreacted hydrocarbon gas to produce nascent carbon in said chamber.

13. The method of heating metal in the work chamber of a metal heating furnace and producing a gaseous atmosphere therein, comprising exothermically reacting air and a hydrocarbon fuel externally of said chamber to produce hot gaseous reaction products, adding lithium carbonate to said hot reaction products, introducing the hot lithiated reaction products into the chamber to impart heat thereto, adding an unreacted hydrocarbon gas to said chamber, utilizing said heat to raise the temperature of said metal to the desired degree and to endothermically crack said unreacted hydrocarbon gas to produce nascent carbon in said chamber and adding addition? lithium carbonate in vapor form to said chamber.

14. The method of heating metal in the work chamber of a metal heating furnace and producing a gaseous atmosphere therein, comprising exothermically reacting air and a hydrocarbon fuel externally of said chamber to produce hot gaseous reaction products, adding lithium carbonate to said hot reaction products, introducing the hot lithiated reaction products into the chamber to impart heat thereto, adding an unreacted hydrocarbon gas to said chamber, utilizing said heat to raise the temperature of said metal to the desired degree and to endothermically crack said unreacted hydrocarbon gas to produce nascent carbon in said chamber, flowing said products into contact with said metal and then venting the same from said chamber, the aggregate volume of said exothermic and endothermic reaction products being surficient to maintain continuously a positive gas pressure in said chamber.

15. The method of heating steel in the work chamber of a metal heating furnace and producing a carburizing gaseous atmosphere therein, comprising exothermically reacting air and a hydrocarbon fuel externally of said chamber to produce hot gaseous reaction products, adding lithium carbonate to said hot reaction products, introducing the hot lithiated reaction products into the chamber to impart heat thereto, adding an unreacted hydrocarbon gas to said chamber and utilizing said heat to raise the temperature of said steel to the carburizing range and to endothermically crack said unreacted hydrocarbon gas to produce nascent carbon having a positive 13 carburizing potential to said steel in said chamber, flowing said products into contact with said steel and then venting the same from said chamber, the aggregate volume of said exothermic and endothermic reaction products being suflicient to maintain continuously a positive 5 gas pressure in said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,162 Harsch June 6, 1939 14 Hayes Mar. 5, 1940 Ness Apr. 29, 1941 Pierce Feb. 16, 1943 Ness Apr. 18, 1944 Billeter June 11, 1946 Cartier Jan. 18, 1949 Chiswik Aug. 21, 1951 

11. THE METHOD OF HEATING METAL IN THE WORK CHAMBER OF A METAL HEATING FURNACE AND PRODUCING A GASEOUS ATMOSPHERE THEREIN, COMPRISING EXOTHERMICALLY REACTING AIR AND A HYDROCARBON FUEL EXTERNALLY OF SAID CHAMBER TO PRODUCE HOT GASEOUS REACTION PRODUCTS, ADDING LITHIUM CARBONATE TO SAID HOT REACTION PRODUCTS, INTRODUCING THE HOT LITHIATED REACTION PRODUCTS INTO THE CHAMBER TO IMPART HEAT THERETO, ADDING AN UNREACTED HYDROCARBON GAS TO SAID CHAMBER AND ULTILIZING SAID HEAT TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID METAL TO THE DESIRED DEGREE AND TO ENDOTHERMATICALLY CRACK SAID UNREACTED HYDROCARBON GAS TO PRODUCE NASCENT CARBON IN SAID CHAMBER. 